To make coffee in a standard drip coffee maker, you basically follow four core steps: add water, add coffee, set up the machine, and start brewing. Below is a simple, repeatable method that works for most home drip machines (like Mr. Coffee–style models).

1. Gather what you need

  • Fresh ground coffee (medium grind, about the texture of table salt).
  • Paper or reusable filter that fits your brew basket.
  • Clean, cold water (filtered is best for taste).
  • Your coffee maker, carafe, and a tablespoon or scale.

2. Add water to the reservoir

  • Remove the carafe and use its markings to measure how many “cups” you want.
  • Pour that same amount of cold water into the machine’s water reservoir; most models have lines labeled 2, 4, 6, etc.

3. Prepare the filter and coffee

  • Place a clean filter in the brew basket so the sides sit flat against the walls.
  • Use this simple ratio as a starting point:
    • Tablespoon method: about 1 heaping tablespoon of ground coffee per 6‑oz “cup” marked on the carafe.
* **Gram method (more precise):** roughly 10–14 grams of coffee per cup (about 150 ml of water).

4. Start the brew cycle

  • Put the carafe back under the basket and close the lid.
  • Press the Brew or Power button; most machines take 3–5 minutes to finish.

5. Serve and adjust

  • Once dripping stops, pour immediately and avoid leaving coffee on the hot plate too long, which can make it taste burnt.
  • If it’s too weak, add a bit more coffee next time; if too strong, reduce the coffee slightly or add a splash of hot water.

Quick reference table (standard drip maker)

Step| What to do| Typical amount / tip
---|---|---
Water| Fill reservoir to desired cup line| Use cold, filtered water if possible. 12
Filter| Insert paper or reusable filter| Make sure it sits flat in the basket. 16
Coffee| Add ground coffee| 1 heaping tbsp per 6‑oz cup, or 10–14 g per 150 ml. 159
Brew| Start machine, wait| 3–5 minutes; keep carafe in place. 17
Adjust| Taste and tweak| More coffee = stronger; less = weaker. 27

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.